# Blood Oranges Need a New PR Person **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630 "2008-04-02T02:49:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/21 "2008-04-02T14:57:47Z")
I love them. Used to eat them in Sicily when I was stationed there from '83 - '86. They’ve been quite hard to find until recently. I used to be able to get them at one farmer’s market in San Diego, but I never saw them in Virginia until recently. The name doesn’t bother me, but the color can be a surprise when you first encounter it. When I first ate one in Sicily, I thought it was a regular orange until I got the peel off. But they are delicious. The ones I’ve seen recently have been labeled “Moro Oranges” rather than “Blood Oranges” – maybe for the benefit of those who would be put off by the name. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/22 "2008-04-02T15:00:40Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] I was stationed in Sicily for two years. When these things came into season, they were so plentiful that they were unloaded cheap. I’d get about eight of them for about thirty or forty cents. When I see what the stores around here charge for them, I kind of miss that. [/QUOTE] No kidding. They practically gave the things away. In season, I used to eat 2 or 3 a day and they cost practically nothing. Also, I recall the Sicilian ones I used to eat as bigger than these Moro variety that I’ve been able to buy recently. Og, they were good. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/23 "2008-04-02T15:02:28Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] OK, here are some photos: A couple of oranges, before cutting: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/2202/2383014634_7ba24f681f_z.jpg "Oranges") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/2383014634/) Same oranges, after being cut by a ceramic knife: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/3082/2383014712_c80b7173ab_z.jpg "Oranges\_cut") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/2383014712/) “Orange” juice obtained by hand-squeezing: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/3117/2383014768_30b04bb917_b.jpg "Juice") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/2383014768/) Juice is not sour, but also not very sweet. Has a distinctive raspberry taste. Also tastes a little like red wine. I like squeezing the juice into regular orange juice, to give it a nice deep color. [/QUOTE] Ooooh. Citrus Porn. I want to shove it in my face! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/24 "2008-04-02T15:18:45Z")
[QUOTE=Jess] I love them. Used to eat them in Sicily when I was stationed there from '83 - '86. [/QUOTE] Remember, 1 finger for Nas 1, 2 for Nas 2, 3 for Motta. If you’re going anywhere else, you’re shit out of luck. 😉 And watch out for the geep. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/25 "2008-04-02T15:29:27Z")
::Holds up 3 fingers:: My son (whom I was pregnant with when I left there) was deployed last year and they stopped at Sig. He loved it – says if he could get orders there, he’d seriously consider taking them. Anyway, they were at the club there one night and he told his buddies, “Hey! I was conceived here.” His buddy: “Here. At this bar?” Nick looks around the bar: “Well, maybe…” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/26 "2008-04-02T15:38:52Z")
Nice! I was at the ASWOC (now Tactical Support Center) there. No one was conceived on my watch, that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/27 "2008-04-02T15:43:28Z")
I love blood oranges. I put them in fruit salad. I bought some for Easter fruit salad but was disappointed with how little flesh they had – almost all peel. But as the produce market was out of raspberries (!) they were great for color. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/28 "2008-04-02T16:04:05Z")
I have bought these things three times, and always been disapointed: -they cost 3 x what a good navle orange costs -they are mostly peel -they have a bland, insispid flavor Honestly, why do people grow them? To me, they are not as good ans any of the common orange varieties. I guess its a case of expensive=good? Its like a Rolls-Royce-a car that costs 5 x what a cadillac does, and doesn’t work as well. ---
**Author:** ![Brunhilda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@Brunhilda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brunhilda)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/29 "2008-04-02T17:00:04Z")
Where are you finding them? They are wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/30 "2008-04-02T18:26:43Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] Nice! I was at the ASWOC (now Tactical Support Center) there. [/QUOTE] No kidding. When were you there again? My ex-husband was stationed at the ASWOC from '83 - '86. My current husband was stationed at HC-4. Hmmm. That sounds more Peyton-Placey than it was. I went to Sig with my first husband – we were on the rocks already, and split up before we’d been there a month. 6 months later, I met my current husband. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/31 "2008-04-02T19:43:38Z")
I was there from 94-96. Walked into the shop an E-3 and left an E-5. I hit my next command, a guided missile cruiser, an OS2 with zero sea time. That made me as popular as a fart in church. We were very busy when I was there with Sharp Guard/Deny Flight operations over Yugoslavia. For my first few months, 70-hour workweeks were the norm. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/32 "2008-04-02T20:15:41Z")
I never saw them before - wow they are really bloody looking. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/33 "2008-04-02T22:54:47Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] I was there from 94-96. Walked into the shop an E-3 and left an E-5. I hit my next command, a guided missile cruiser, an OS2 with zero sea time. That made me as popular as a fart in church. We were very busy when I was there with Sharp Guard/Deny Flight operations over Yugoslavia. For my first few months, 70-hour workweeks were the norm. [/QUOTE] I guess – E-3 to E-5 in 2 years is _fast_. But you tenant command and squadron guys really worked hard and lots of hours. Personally, I worked for the Air Station itself and found it a pretty easy tour. My husband, though, at HC-4, he worked his fanny off. You guys might as well have been on sea duty. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/34 "2008-04-03T00:58:14Z")
i think dexter is an excellent spokesperson. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/35 "2008-04-03T01:43:32Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I have bought these things three times, and always been disapointed: -they cost 3 x what a good navle orange costs -they are mostly peel -they have a bland, insispid flavor Honestly, why do people grow them? To me, they are not as good ans any of the common orange varieties. I guess its a case of expensive=good? Its like a Rolls-Royce-a car that costs 5 x what a cadillac does, and doesn’t work as well. [/QUOTE] Aw, Ralph, you’ve been missing out. I’ve found them at a store in Portland called Limbo…it’s in the same structure as a Trader Joe’s. Big, but only half the fruit was red. The best ones I got at a store called Zupans. BIG oranges, very little peel, and the fruit was the most gorgeous color I’ve ever seen on a blood orange. Someone mentioned they can be too tart. I imagine there are many varieties of blood orange just like any other citrus. I do think tartness is a characteristic of them, but it’s best when balanced by sweetness. Incidentally, I had never heard of blood oranges until I was required to read a novel entitled _The Blood Oranges_ in college (ca 1991), and had never seen them until a year ago. My OP is serious, in that I’m afraid they’ll die out, but I do agree that the name is really cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/36 "2008-04-03T01:45:34Z")
[QUOTE=Jess] Personally, I worked for the Air Station itself and found it a pretty easy tour. My husband, though, at HC-4, he worked his fanny off. You guys might as well have been on sea duty. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure how it was when you were in, but Sigonella in the 1990s was considered, for rotational purposes, Type 3 sea duty instead of regular shore duty or overseas duty. The workload and the lack of normal shore duty amenities were a big part of this classification. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/37 "2008-04-03T02:03:57Z")
[QUOTE=Runs With Scissors] Aw, Ralph, you’ve been missing out. I’ve found them at a store in Portland called Limbo…it’s in the same structure as a Trader Joe’s. Big, but only half the fruit was red. The best ones I got at a store called Zupans. BIG oranges, very little peel, and the fruit was the most gorgeous color I’ve ever seen on a blood orange. Someone mentioned they can be too tart. I imagine there are many varieties of blood orange just like any other citrus. I do think tartness is a characteristic of them, but it’s best when balanced by sweetness. Incidentally, I had never heard of blood oranges until I was required to read a novel entitled _The Blood Oranges_ in college (ca 1991), and had never seen them until a year ago. My OP is serious, in that I’m afraid they’ll die out, but I do agree that the name is really cool. [/QUOTE] When I moved to Arizona, I developed a bit of a Citrus growing affliction. I currently have more than 20 varieties planted. It’s unlikely that Blood Oranges will die out, but they have already become a “boutique” fruit. There are a few nurseries that are dedicated to growing obscure citrus, so I think they are safe: [Citrus Variety Info Chart](http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/variety_list.html) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/38 "2008-04-03T07:41:49Z")
Has anyone ver had a good “Ugli” fruit? To me, they tasted like a dried-up grapefruit-at 4X the price! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/39 "2008-04-03T07:52:10Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I have bought these things three times, and always been disapointed: -they cost 3 x what a good navle orange costs -they are mostly peel -they have a bland, insispid flavor Honestly, why do people grow them? To me, they are not as good ans any of the common orange varieties. I guess its a case of expensive=good? Its like a Rolls-Royce-a car that costs 5 x what a cadillac does, and doesn’t work as well. [/QUOTE] I can only imagine you’ve been terribly unlucky, or whoever is selling them to you has an inherently bad supplier. They’re usually very juicy, tender-fleshed and - as we’re all struggling to describe, a uniquely tart-yet-sweet flavour. I think they’re almost ‘fizzy’ - like eating sherbet (disambiguation: Sherbet means a fizzy powder, eaten as candy, here) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630/40 "2008-04-03T07:53:13Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Has anyone ver had a good “Ugli” fruit? To me, they tasted like a dried-up grapefruit-at 4X the price! [/QUOTE] Tried them a few times, just like a very large, bland (expensive) satsuma each time in my experience. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-oranges-need-a-new-pr-person/443630.md?page=3)